• I’ve been traveling internationally since I was a teenager.
• Since then, I’ve been to 86 countries and have learned how to travel on a budget.
• I book directly with local businesses and I embrace public transportation, among other things.

As a teenager who lived in a small town, I became obsessed with travel, collecting piles of books written by authors who’d traversed the globe under their own steam. I vowed to do the same and got a job at a bookshop to pay for it. There’s nothing like working all hours to make you appreciate money, and I vowed not to waste a cent when I did get to see the world.

After a trip to watch wildlife in Tanzania at 18, I caught the travel bug in a big way which made me even more motivated to save as much cash as possible for future trips. Now, 20 years later, I’ve visited 86 countries on a shoestring budget.

While independent backpacking conjures up images of having to sacrifice various experiences, it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, there have been many occasions when I’ve stood next to other tourists and looked at exactly the same thing, only I’ve paid much less to be there than them.

Stay in a homestay and book with them directly

One way I save money is by booking directly with local businesses instead of through booking services. For example, when I went on a trip to the Kinabatangan River in Borneo to see wildlife like pygmy elephants and orangutans, I found the direct contact details online for a homestay.

The owner had a boat, and he took us out three times a day to see Malaysia’s wildlife over the two days we stayed there. While my partner and I watched the incredible elephants, the other boats arrived, with tourists paying $900 to be there, compared to the $130 that we paid for two nights, all of our meals, and four boat trips. (I noted the names of the companies to find the price online afterward, and I was shocked at the difference.) It feels more ethical, too, as our money went straight to people living by the river instead of a tour company based elsewhere.

Embrace public transportation

While some travelers turn their noses up at public transport, it’s a great way to meet people, and it becomes a part of the experience. Places like Chile and Argentina have great long-distance bus services, and some even have attendants who dish out cheese and ham sandwiches.

It helps to embrace multiple types of transport, too, especially in smaller countries. Hopping from one kind of transportation to another allowed us to reach places we wouldn’t be able to see if we’d just stuck to one. In Tunisia, my partner and I took trains, buses, and shared taxis all around the country to see everything from ancient ruins in Carthage to flamingos in the ocean.

Rent a moped and travel on your own steam

Another great way to see numerous sights in one day is by renting a moped to drive yourself. This is particularly great for countries in South and Southeast Asia, as a small vehicle can help you get around the heavy traffic in their busy cities.

However, if this is your plan, make sure to convert your driver’s license into an international one; otherwise, you might get pulled over and fined by the police.

Check to see if you can take your own transportation through national parks

If you love wildlife and want to explore national parks on your own, research whether you can avoid paying for a tour by taking your own transportation through the park. Some national parks allow you to register on their booking system to avoid paying commission to an agent.

In places like Baku National Park in Borneo, you can get your own boat without taking an official tour. You also don’t even need to walk very far into the park to see wildlife, as so many animals just hang out by the office.

Book tours once you’re in the country

Sometimes, you may have to take a tour as it is the only way to see a certain place you’re interested in. If that is the case, make sure to book the tours while you’re in the country, as it will save you money. I did this in The Gambia, and it was much cheaper than the ones offered by the airline. The money also went to a local company and local causes instead of a corporation.

Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you need to deny yourself an occasional splurge, and I set a little aside so that I can treat myself on each vacation. Usually, I eat street food, which I love, or buy food from supermarkets, but if a bar or restaurant is particularly special, I try to visit. In Singapore, for example, I went to the Raffles Hotel to try one of its famous Singapore Sling cocktails, an experience you can’t recreate elsewhere. Budgeting can be hard work, so we all deserve a little treat!